The heart of the awl.

The kid's first camping trip unfolded in the municipal campground in Harrison, Idaho. Harrison is a cute town along the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, America's longest paved pedestrian trail. It's also a town overrun by power boaters. Boaters, and I guess I just learned this, apparently just drive around in big boats all day and get drunk.

(Root beer time in Plummer, Idaho.)

The trail follows an old rail bed and is remarkably flat and often straight. When it's not following the edges of lakes it's cutting across sprawling meadows and marshes using bridges and causeways. This stretch of northern Idaho is remarkably waterlogged -- a fact you don't appreciate until you exit the freeway and poke around a bit.

(Chacolet Bridge)

(Chacolet Bridge)

In two days we pedaled 73 miles, which in all is about half of the trail. The 73-mile figure, however, underestimates the effort involved as I was pulling the Chariot the entire time. When I unhooked the trailer to pedal ahead and find a store, what had been a comfortable plodding at 13 mph suddenly sprung to a comfortable plodding at 18 mph.

(A $15 lakeside tent spot on Lake Coeur d'Alene.)

Laura spotted three moose along the trail, which the kid took absolutely zero interest in. There were also deer, walkers, bikers of all ages and descriptions, and more than a few quiet spots to sit in the shade and watch the river. All told, nice.

(Learning about mesh. Harrison, Idaho, Sunday, July 8, 2012.)